Lemon Pasta

Close-up of lemon spaghetti on a blue plate.

This quick lemon pasta makes a delightful summer pasta dish that's bright, creamy, and bursting with lemon flavor. And it's ready in less than 15 minutes.

Prep Time5

Total Time15

Course: pasta

Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean

Keyword: Lemon spaghetti

Servings:

Calories: 290kcal

Author: Katia

Ingredients

Pasta

9oz (250 grams) Spaghetti (or your favorite pasta shapes)

Lemon Garlic Sauce

1 ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lemon zest
½ cup (60 ml) pasta cooking water
¼ cup (30 grams) grated parmesan cheese, plus more to serve
¼ cup cream cheese
2 tablespoons lemon juice (approx juice from ½ lemon)
8 Basil leaves, shredded
salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions

Spaghetti

Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and cook pasta per packet instructions.
When the pasta is nearly done, reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water (you need it for the sauce), and stop cooking and draining the pasta when it's al dente.

Lemon sauce

When the pasta is about 4 minutes away from being done, heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add garlic and lemon zest and cook for about 60 seconds until it's fragrant and smells nice.
Add only ½ cup of the reserved hot pasta water (keep the rest aside), then the lemon juice, grated parmesan, cream cheese, basil, and a few grinds of freshly ground black pepper. Stir until emulsified and smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking if needed. Turn the heat off.
Now, the spaghetti should be ready and al dente. Drain it and add it to the pan, tossing until well combined and juicy. If needed, add an extra touch of the reserved pasta water.
Serve with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

Notes

Storage: Lemon pasta leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Refrigeration will dry them out. Reheat on the stove or in a microwave with a touch of water or milk, and toss well until combined.

Nutrition facts: The nutrition values are for one serving and are based on an online nutrition calculator. It’s an estimate only, and it should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice (extra parmesan cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to serve are not included). Please see my disclosure policies.

Nutrition